COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus State Community College is stepping up to help fill a nursing shortage through a new initiative.
Dr. Kirk Dickerson, chief health care strategist at the college, said as they continue to see high numbers of students graduating, earning their associate's and becoming licensed nurses, the goal is to help them obtain their bachelor's and master's degrees so that they have the opportunity to become more advanced clinicians.
Understanding that CSCC could be a good fit for students on a number of levels including cost, they decided to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the first time.
He noted that offering the program opens the door for greater accessibility and cost effectiveness.
"Ninety-three percent of our students who have graduated at Columbus State said they would like to stay with us to be able to complete that bachelor's degree. So it was kind of a no-brainer for us that this was going to be the next step,” Dickerson said.
He went on to say that it makes things easier for students now so that they don’t have to search for another institution to complete a degree.
“They're able to stay somewhere where they've already been successful. They don't have to learn a new learning management system," he said. "They're able to step right in and seamlessly continue their classes and complete their education.”
For employers in central Ohio, there’s currently a need for 2,000 more registered nurses, according to the Central Ohio Hospital Council. Dickerson said he expects that a number of those graduating from their program will work in those hospitals.
He indicated that CSCC recognized a BSN option was needed to help students earn the degree, so they could maintain employment at the magnet hospitals. However, since the program is online, it will allow those across state lines to consider the program as well.